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Kentucky State University joined other campuses of the nation’s 1890 land-grant universities in celebrating the Morrill Act of 1890.

The Morrill Act of 1890 established a land-grant university system of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in states where African Americans were banned from accessing a public higher education.

According to a news release from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), higher education leaders, elected officials and policymakers, business and community leaders will join in an online celebration of the 1890 land-grant universities anniversary, culminating with a two-hour online forum Monday, Aug. 31 from 1 – 3 p.m. EDT that will explore the history and accomplishments of these institutions and the important role they play in the nation’s future. Registration for that convening is open to all here.

According to the APLU press release, the webinar will have two panel discussions. One panel will feature officials from Virginia State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Fort Valley State University, and the APLU. The webinar will also feature a second panel with private sector leaders from U.S. Government Affairs, Microsoft Corporation, Bayer U.S. – Crop Science and Corteva Agriscience.

According to the release, after 130 years, 19 universities designated as 1890 land-grant universities continue to work together to provide essential research, education, and Extension/public outreach that both sustains U.S. food, fiber and renewable fuel production and addresses the challenges of our time at local, regional, national and global levels.